Amazonian Army Ants: Their Secret Lives [F-14-5]
Presenter: | Susan Willson |
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Location: | SLU: Bewkes 303 |
Classes: | 1 Session 1.5 hours |
Dates: | Mon 2:00 PM 10/20 |
Status: | CANCELLED |
Print Info
On a nature program or on the National Geographic channel, many of you have seen army ants marching through the forest, eating everything in their path. In this talk, we will explore the key role that army ants play in creating new niches and adding biodiversity to lowland tropical rainforests. We’ll also talk about the fascinating life cycle of these ants, and how they continually move their nest, or bivouac, to maintain a constant food supply. Finally, we’ll examine what it’s like to study these ants on a daily basis, while living in one of the most pristine tropical environments on earth.
Susan Willson is a tropical ecologist, ornithologist, and army ant specialist. She has carried out research in the Neotropics for over 20 years. Her favorite spot on earth is a remote biological station in the Peruvian Amazon, where she studied army ants and the birds that follow them.